For matrices of positive determinant, use the determinant-normalized slash operator for modular forms
It satisfies the composition law . If
then
Thus the Fricke involution normalizes the group, and the composition law proves that has the required transformation law.
The matrix permutes the rational cusps. Applying it to a local Fourier expansion merely transports that expansion to the image cusp, with a nonzero change of local parameter. It therefore preserves holomorphy and vanishing at every cusp. Hence
Let
For
the matrix lies in and satisfies . The weight-twelve transformation law for the modular discriminant gives the same factor in numerator and denominator. Hence , so is a weight-zero modular function of level .
The discriminant has no zero in the upper half-plane, so has neither zeros nor poles there. At infinity,
and therefore : it has a pole of order two. The transformation gives
The Fricke involution exchanges infinity and zero, so has a zero of order two at the cusp zero.
Thus the morphism has degree two, equal to its total pole order. An isomorphism of compact Riemann surfaces has degree one. Although has genus zero, this particular morphism is therefore not an isomorphism.